Take a peek behind the scenes at the self-proclaimed "Bastion of Fundamentalism" and "Fortress of Faith," Bob Jones University. A Bob Jones University graduate takes a close look at the Joneses, Bob Jones University, and the national network of Bob Jones-styled fundamentalist churches and ministries staffed by Bob Jones University graduates and influenced by the pragmatic philosophies and principles taught and practiced by BJU.
Jonesianism, a term perhaps first coined in BJU Exposed, is simply modern-day Phariseeism. Jonesianism is essentially a combination of psuedo-religious legalism with endless man-made rules given Ten Commandment-status, religious hypocrisy, extreme sectarianism, religious pride, and pervasive intellectual, ecclesiastic, ethical corruption and dishonesty all ruled over by a few men who embodied the worst qualities of the original Pharisees and whose teachings and actions cannot be questioned.

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May 25, 2007

Bob Jones University's Leadership: Do not ye after their works for they Say and Do not

Quotes of the Day:

"All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." Matthew 23: 3, 4

"I have seen corruption boil and bubble 'til it o'errun the stew. Laws for all faults, But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, As much in mock as mark." W. Shakespeare on the rules of Bob Jones University

"South Carolina Civil Code CHAPTER 75. SUITS INVOLVING MISCELLANEOUS ACTS OF WRONGFUL CONDUCT
SECTION 15-75-10. Imputation of want of chastity to female.
If any person shall utter and publish, either by writing or verbally, any words of and concerning any female imputing to her a want of chastity, the person so uttering and publishing such words shall be liable for damages in a civil action brought by the female of whom the words may be uttered and published, without proving any special damage, subject, nevertheless, to the rules of evidence.
SECTION 15-75-10 is not unconstitutional. Wardlaw v. Peck (S.C.App. 1984) 282 S.C. 199, 318 S.E.2d 270.
ALR and L Ed Annotations -
Actionability of charge of being a "slut," "bitch," or "son of a bitch." 13 ALR3d 807."

Bob Jones University's Leadership: Do not ye after their works for they Say and Do not

Warren Buffet once said, "It takes 25 years to build a good reputation and just five minutes to ruin it." Dr. Bob Jones Jr. did nothing to build a good reputation and certainly ruined the good reputations of those associated with Bob Jones University with such crude talk about the First Lady of the United States. Unfortunately, Dr. Bob Jones Jr.'s reputation was not the only reputation ruined; he also damaged the reputation of Bob Jones University, its administrators, its staff, students, graduates, and supporters. And, since Dr. Bob Jones Jr. was such a loud proponent of fundamentalist Christianity, he damaged the reputations of his fundamentalist friends.

To my knowledge, neither Bob Jones Jr., nor any of the Joneses, have ever acknowledged the gravity of calling the First Lady of the United States of America "a slut." This is a strange silence for this group of outspoken moral crusaders. The Joneses and their followers often sweep such "dirty laundry" under the carpet. Powerful independent fundamentalist leaders often seem to escape biblical accountability. Some seem to have adopted the ethics of former Louisiana Governor Edwards, who said he could "get away with anything so long as he wasn't caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl." The rank-and-file independent fundamentalist, like the students at Bob Jones University in this case, seem to have been conditioned to blindly support their leaders and to never speak out!

Yet, the Book for which the Joneses claim is the basis for Bob Jones University's standards of faith and practice, commands Christians to "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." (Ephesians 3:31) Evidently from their actions, the Joneses do not think that the Bible's commands apply to them and theirs. And this selective application of the rules of conduct and this sort of double standard defines one disturbing aspect of Bob Jones University fundamentalism.

Bob Jones University presents itself as an institution of higher learning. What lessons were taught to the students and the fundamentalists who hang on every word the Joneses utter? Obviously, each one of the seven or eight deans of Bob Jones University who were sitting on the platform behind Dr. Bob Jones Jr. when he cursed the First Lady, knew the Bible's teaching on inordinate speech.

I was watching Dr. Walter Fremont to see what I could learn from his reaction. His, like those of his fellow deans, his was silent assent. Evidently, he knew the terminal consequences of rebuking the man who signed his paychecks; like most Jonesians, Dr. Fremont was more comfortable rebuking those who questioned Dr. Jones' conduct. Dr. Fremont's silent approval was rewarded and now a gymnasium on the campus bears his name. In fact, not one of the educators on the platform that day rose to point the Nathanic finger at the man who violated the Ninth Commandment: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." The silence of the top educators at Bob Jones University was taken - by the student body and by the world - as their approval for Dr. Bob Jones Jr.'s inordinate speaking. And, this is not the only time the top educators at Bob Jones University remained quiet when they should have stood and rebuked Jonesian evil.

One of the lessons taught to the student body by Dr. Bob Jones Jr. and the administrators and faculty of Bob Jones University was that some people are above Biblical reproach and correction, not because they act in a manner "above reproach" but because of the positions they have achieved. Thus, it is no surprise that BJU students wink at the sins of a fundamentalist pastor of an independent church; fundamentalist pastors are normally viewed as above Biblical reproach and correction by their church members much the same way the Joneses are within the Jonesian orbit.

Not only did Dr. Bob Jones Jr. violate God's Law, he also violated man's law, as is evidenced by the above cite from South Carolina Civil Law: SUITS INVOLVING MISCELLANEOUS ACTS OF WRONGFUL CONDUCT, SECTION 15-75-10, Imputation of want of chastity to female. Additionally, Slander and Libel are Criminal in nature as codified in the South Carolina Criminal Code. Dr. Bob Jones Jr.'s statement was maliciously slanderous. President and First Lady Ford apparently chose to consider the source and ignored the fundamentalist's tirade.

Dr. Bob Jones Jr. also violated the trust of those of us who attended Bob Jones University, especially those of us who received degrees from the school with BOB JONES UNIVERSITY emblazoned across the top of the diploma! In doing so he negated all of the outward show of righteousness of the faculty, staff, and student body; long hemlines and short haircuts can only do so much! What is the use of banning soft rock music like The Carpenters and John Denver if your chancellor uses the vocabulary of a Rap group!

If you mention this incident to a Bob Jones University student or graduate, you can watch his eyes glaze over and he becomes very quiet. It really is the only defense for indefensible conduct. Unfortunately, this is also the way of personality cults.

The world did not miss the incongruity of the chancellor of Bob Jones University - the school that is so loud in tooting its own horn and so free with its pious public rebukes of the faults of others - would speak in such an unholy manner about the wife of the President of the United States. No doubt there would have been "hell to pay" if a student or another fundamentalist preacher had called Mrs. Bob Jones Jr. or Beneth Peter Jones III "a slut!" But, the Golden Rule has never been an important "fundamentalist doctrine" and the Joneses like it that way. It gives them a bit more freedom to be Joneses while selectively espousing selected fundamentalist doctrines that they find more convenient and useful. At Bob Jones University, it is not important what the Bible teaches so much as what the Joneses teach and practice: they can justify practically anything from the Bible.

The Joneses talk about the "character training" at Bob Jones University and "standing for the absolute authority of the Bible" but they seem to have failed to embrace those teachings as they apply to themselves. While the Joneses have set themselves up as "theological policemen" according to Mark Dalhouse in his book An Island in the Lake of Fire, none of their fundamentalist friends or employees "police" the Joneses: the Joneses don't look kindly on those who question them. Dr. Bob Jones Jr. was viewed as the "crazy uncle" of Bob Jones University; one never knew when he would open his mouth and make himself, and everyone in Jonesdom, look like mindless cultish religious hypocrites in a personality cult.

It is this type of incident - and the interracial dating ban is included in the list along with a host of attacks on public figures - that sticks in the public consciousness and fixes in the minds of the public a negative view of Bob Jones University. The public sees the incongruity between what Christ taught about dealing with people and the practices of the Joneses in dealing with others.

Those students who went out to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and who identified themselves with Bob Jones University, operated under an unnecessary handicap. "Good morning, Sir. I'm from Bob Jones University. Are you a Christian?" "Oh, is that the school that called First Lady Betty Ford 'a slut?' I'm really not interested." "Oh, but sir, we men students have short hair, and the girls have long skirts, and we are led by Dr. Bob Jones Jr. He is one of the greatest fundamentalists in the world! Don't you want to be a Bob Jones University-styled fundamentalist Christian, too?"

It is one thing for someone to "stumble" and reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is quite another thing for someone to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of this type of conduct. You Jonesians who silently worship everything "Jones" may be happy as pigs in slop, but don't be surprised if people don't want to wallow in the slop with you.

Why shouldn't the world question fundamentalists and the message they bear? With publicity like this preceding the Gospel according to Bob Jones University, it is a wonder that there is not a more vitriolic reaction to Bob Jones University students. And, that is just from those who do not know how the Joneses treat their brethren; First Lady Betty Ford got off easy in comparison! I have seen how the Joneses treat their fellow Christians and it is often worse than that afforded to Betty Ford!

What's the solution? The Jonesian solution is to give the Joneses and Bob Jones University 'a pass' and start attacking me. But, Dr. Bob Jones Sr. said, "It is better to wash dirty linen in public than to not wash it at all." I could not agree more heartily! I might add, "It is better to wash dirty linen late than never at all."

There is nothing preventing the chancellor of Bob Jones University, Dr. Bob Jones III, and the president of Bob Jones University, Stephen Jones, from contacting former First Lady Betty Ford and offering an apology on behalf of Bob Jones University. Wouldn't it be refreshing to see the Joneses and Bob Jones University operate under the biblical principles that they require of everyone else? But then, the Joneses "say and do not."